Stapling implement for sealing bags and the like



STAPLING IMPLEMENT FOR SEALING BAGS AND THE LIKE Filed Sept. 11, 1952 -75 Z6 37/ 2 Wen 2 a?" BC; arlefMimds Patented June 29, 1954 STAPLIN G IMPLEMENT FOR SEALING BAGS AND THE LIKE Charles M. Lindstrom, Westerly, R. 1., assignor to lBostitch, Inc., Stonington, Conn, a corporation of Rhode Island Application September 11, 1952, Serial No. 308,970

4 Claims.

This invention relates to stapling or wirestitching machines and consists particularly in an implement for sealing the'gathered mouths of sacks, bags, tubular envelopes and like containers for commodities by applying staples or like fasteners bound around the necks thereof.

One object of the invention is to provide an implement for applying a wire staple or like fastening means encircling the contracted neck of a container and clinching it snugly therearound.

Another object is to provide an implement having means for tightly gripping the folded or gathered neck of a container and applying a staple thereto combined with means for clinching the legs of the staple in overlapping relationship.

Anothe robject is to provide a device of the type specified which may be operated manually or with power applied thereto for applying wire fasteners to the necks of the containers and clinching them therearound.

Further objects of the invention are set forth in the following specification which describes a preferred form of construction of the device, by way of example, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the device shown as prepared for operation with the neck of a container gripped therein for applying a staple therearound and clinching its legs together;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the stapling arm closed down against the neck of the container with the parts in position for operation to apply a staple thereto and clinch its legs together;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the gripping and holding member for the bag or container showing the clinching means on the anvil part thereof;

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view of the clinching means taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the end portion of a sack or bag showing a staple applied to its gathered neck for closing its opening or mouth.

In accordance with modern methods of packaging foodstuifs, confectionery and other merchandise, the goods are enclosed in containers of wax paper or other transparent material such as the cellulose acetate product sold under the trade name Pliofilm. Conveniently, the wrappers or containers may be manufactured in the form of flat tubular envelopes with either one or both ends left open and with their surfaces sometimes printed with indicia to show the origin of the goods contained therein.

In accordance with a common practice the tubular containers or envelopes are employed as sacks or bags and their mouths closed by gathering the sides together in folds. To seal the mouths of the bags a cord or string is sometimes tied around their closed necks and heretofore this operation of sealing the containers has usually been performed manually. To economize in the labor and cost of packing goods in the preferred manner described, the present invention provides an implement into which the closed end or contracted mouth of the container may be inserted and a wire in the form of a staple applied therearound and clinched or set in place to form a substantially air-tight seal. The open ends or mouths of the bags or containers may be closed by manual manipulation or the sides of the mouths may be mechanically gathered and crimped in folds by means of an automatic machine such as shown and described in United States Patent No. 2,045,397, dated June 23, 1936.

Referring to the accompanying drawings. the present invention is herein illustrated as embodied in a hand-operated stapling machine, but it is to be understood that the stapling mechanism thereof may be mounted for operation by a foot-treadle or under power through the means of an electric motor.

As shown in the accompanying drawings, the implement of the present invention is generally similar to that described and illustrated in my United States Patent No. 2,461,165, dated February 8, 1949. The implement comprises a magazine for staples in the form of a trough-shaped arm 2, a fastener-applying arm 3 pivoted to the magazine-arm in overlying relation thereto, a bag-gripping and clinching arm 4 at the opposite side of the magazine-arm from the fastenerapplying arm, and a manually-operable forcemultiplying lever 5 connected to actuate the fastener-applying arm and clincher-arm.

The magazine-arm 2 is of channel-shape in cross-section comprising a bottom wall 3 and parallel side walls 9 extending upwardly there from. The forward ends of the side walls 9 of the magazine project beyond its bottom wall 8 and are folded inwardly to form an end wall it].

Mounted within the magazine-arm 2 and extending longitudinally thereof is a staple-support or core 15 across which U-shaped staples 8 may be straddled to adapt them to feed therealong for delivery to the applying means. The forward end of the core i5 is spaced a slight distance rearwardly of the inwardly-folded sides 9 which form the front wall ll! of the magazine-arm 2 to provide a vertical guideway or grooves 2| adapted to receive a slidable staple-driver 25.

The staple-driver is in the form of a hardened metal blade provided with relatively narrow side iins or runners adapted to slide in the grooves 2! at the forward end of the magazinearm 2. The staple-driver 25 is connected to be reciprocated by the arm 3, this connection comprising a stud 33 fastened in the forward end of the arm and having its projecting portion engaging through a hole near the lower end of the driver.

The staple-applying arm 3 is of inverted channel shape in crosssection with its side walls 3:1 tapering slightly toward its rearward end which is formed with semicircular ears 35 pivotally connected to the sides of the magazine-arm 2 by means of a crosspin 36. Along the rearward portion of the arm 3 its side walls 34 are joined together by a top wall 38, but forwardly thereof throughout its widened front portions the top wall is cut away with an extended opening "ill to provide a window or doorway for inserting staples therethrough into the magazine-arm 2. Suitably secured to the inner faces of sides 3d of the arm 3, as by welding or riveting, are a pair of studs having reduced central portions bounded by peripheral flanges at their ends. The studs 65 are engaged by the ends of the manually-operative lever 5 in a manner as later explained.

The bag-gripping and staple-clinching arm 4 is generally of channel shape in cross-section having its forward longitudinally-tapered por tion ofiset below its main rearward portion, the sides of the latter being of greater depth. At its rearward end the sides of the arm 4 overlap the sides of the magazine-arm 2 and are provided with holes for receiving the cross-pin 35, previously mentioned, to pivotally connect the arm 4 to the arms 2 and 3.

The manually-operative lever 5 is of channel shape in cross-section with its rearward portion formed with a rounded bottom wall providing a hand-grip and its forward side walls 49 extending upwardly at an angle toadapt them to straddle the sides of the clincher-arm 4 and the magazine-arm 2. A crosspin 50 projects through .1

holes in the sides of the arm 4 and the side walls of the lever 5 for pivotally mounting the latter on the arm. The upper ends of the side walls 49 of the lever 5 terminate in hooks 5| adapted to engage around the studs 45 which project inwardly from the walls of the stapleapplying arm 3 whereby to connect the lever 5 for rocking said arm downwardly to reciprocate the driver 25 across the end of the magazine arm 2. Rearwardly of the hook-portions 5i of the lever 5 the sides 49 are formed with camfaces 52 which operate on the studs 45 with an increased pressure or mechanical advantage during completion of the relative movement between the arms 3 and 4 for driving and clinching the staples. That is to say, during the last portion of the movement of the staple-driver toward the arm 4 the force of the lever 5 is multiplied as the legs of the staple are bent around and clinched on the under side of the bags neck.

The arm i is normally maintained in spaced relation to the magazine-arm 2 and the stapleapplying arm 3 through the means of'a leafspring 55 of slightly bowed shape. The rearward end of the spring 55 bears. against the under Side of the magazine-arm 2 and its forward end engages under the crosspin 50 while its central bowed portion bears against the bottom wall of the arm 4. A tongue 56 formed by a portion of the metal slit from the end of the spring 55 is bent upwardly and curved around the top of the pin 50 to connect this end of the spring therewith.

The staples s are held from rising up on the core 15 by means of a cover member 60 which overlies their crossbars and is slidable longitudinally of the magazine 2 to open it for receiving the staples inserted through the window or door 40 in the top of the stable-applying arm 3. The cover 60 has its rearward end bent down wardly to form a tail-piece El adapted to be gripped in the fingers to draw the cover rearwardly along the top of the magazine 2. The cover 60 is formed with a relatively narrow slot extending substantially its whole length and intended for a purpose explained hereinafter. The cover 66 is maintained in position overlying the upper edges of the sides 9 of the magazinaarm 2 by means of a leaf-spring 63 bearing against the top of the staple-applying arm 3. The rearward end of the spring t3 engages against the under side of the top wall 38 of arm its middle bowed portion bears against the top of the cover Bil, and its forward end is fastened to the top wall 38 by a lug 64 formed from a por tion of the metal slitted therefrom and bent downwardly to project through a hole in the spring.

The staples are advanced along the core 15 in the magazine-arm 2 by means of a staple-pusher 66 of usual construction adapted to overlie and straddle the core. The staple-pusher SE is constructed of sheet-metal with a top wall 61 and downwardly-bent flanges or side walls 68. The side walls 68 extend forwardly beyond the forward end of the top wall 61 which is bent downwardly with a portion 59 therebetween. The forward edges of the side walls 68 are adapted to engage the legs of the rearmost staple in the magazine 2 to slide the whole series of staples forwardly on the core 15. The staple-pusher 66 is slid forwardly along the core i5 under the tension of a helical spring 10, the forward end of which bears against the bent down portion 59 of the top wall 61. The rearward end of the spring. 10 encloses a hollow stud H and bears against its flanged end 12 to press it against the crosspin 36 which pivotally connects the arms 2, 3 and 4. The staple-pusher 66 is adapt- 5 ed to be retracted on the core l5 against the tension of the spring 10 by withdrawing the cover 60 along the top of the magazine-arm 2. For this purpose the staple-pusher is provided with an upstanding lug or finger 14 formed from a portion of the metal sheared from its top wall 61 and bent upward therefrom. The finger M is adapted to be engaged by the end of the slot, previously mentioned, in the cover 60 whereby the pusher 55 may be retracted until its rearward end engages the crosspin 36 which limits its movement in this direction.

Projecting forwardly from the end of the arm 4 is a member 15 constructed from bar-stock and shaped to form the gripping means for holding the neck of the sack or bag 13 in position for applying a staple s therearound. As shown in Fig. 3, the rearward end of the gripping member 15 fits between the sides of the channel-shaped end of the lever 4 and is fixedly secured thereto by welding or riveting it in place therein. The forward end of the gripper I is offset slightly from the longitudinal center line of the member with a curved side 76 and an angular portion 1'! at the opposite side extending parallel to the side of a hook-like rearward projection or beak 78. The beak 18 forms with the angular edge ll a relatively narrow slot 80 for receiving a portion of the gathered neck of the container or bag B as shown in Fig. 2. The straight side of the beak 78 is joined to the angular side 71 of the gripper 75 by a circular portion at 8| while the outer end of the beak is beveled on the inside at 32 to provide a reentrant opening into the slot 8t. Forward of the circular end of the slot Bathe main portion of the gripper l5 and the beakportion 78 form a relatively short opening or slot 85 terminating in a circular end. At the forward end of the slot 85 its sides are beveled to form a reentrant mouth and provide for easy entrance of the neck of the bag B into the slot. The portion of the member 15 between the ends of the slots 80 and 85 is hollowed out at the top to form a concavity or curved recess 36 for cradling the neck of the bag; the ends of the recess being rounded over to avoid sharp edges liable to abrade or cut into the thin material of the container.

staked, or otherwise machined into the metal of the member 15 bridging the recess 86 are two angular clincher-grooves 87 and 88, see Fig. 4, adapted to receive the ends of the legs of a staple and bend them inwardly around the neck of the bag to clinch them together in overlapping relationship, see Fig. 5, so as to form a flat loop encircling the neck.

The construction and arrangement of the present improved implement having now been described, its method of operation is explained as follows: The implement is prepared for operation by withdrawing the magazine cover 60,

to retract the staple-pusher 66 for loading the magazine-arm 2 with staples. After the pusher 66 has been retracted a stick of staples s is inserted through the opening til in the top of the arm 3 and placed in position with the legs of the staples straddling the core IS. The cover 6!] is then slid forwardly on the magazine 2 into its closed position illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2.

The sack, bag or other container is then placed in the holder or gripper 15 by first gathering its mouth together in tight folds and inserting its neck in the slots til and 85. The folded neck of the bag B is first inserted in the slot th and drawn snugly into the end thereof, and then carried down into the forward slot 85 to loop it around the recessed intermediate portion of the gripper l5 as shown in Fig. 1. The terminal portion of the neck of the bag is then pulled downward to seat the gathered neck in the hollow or recess 86 overlying the clincher-grooves ill and 88. The implement is then ready to be operated to apply a staple and clinch its legs around the neck of the bag to close and seal its opening or mouth.

To apply a staple to the work the implement is grasped with the palm of the hand overlying the staple-applying arm 3 and the fingers looped around the under side of the operating lever '5. Then, by applying pressure to the lever 5 its hooked connection at 55 with the studs 45 on the stapling arm 3 will act to swing the latter and the clincher-arm 4 toward each other. Dur ing this relative movement between the arms 3 and 4 the leaf-spring 55 is compressed, but the spring 53, being of greater tension, will initially resist relative movement between the arm 3 and the magazine-arm 2. When, however, the forwardend of the magazine-arm 2 is brought into contact with the neck of the bag B, the arm 3 will continue its motion to compress the spring 63. Consequently, this motion of the arm 3 relative to the magazine-arm 2 will cause the stapledriver 25 to be slid downwardly in the throat at the forward end of the magazine-arm. As the driver 25 descends it will separate the foremost staple s from the stick and force it down through thegrooves 2| of the throat at the end of the magazine-arm to apply it to the work. It will be understood that the gripper-member i5 is so constructed and located with respect to the grooves 2| in the magazine-arm 2 that the legs of thestaples s will straddle the gathered neck of the bag B- as it is confined in the recess 86 of the gripper without piercing through the material of the bag. It will also be observed that the clincher-grooves 8? and 38 are so related that the ends of the staple legs will enter the outer ends of the grooves and be bent inwardly to underlie the neck of the bag and finally be clinched therearound in slightly overlapped re lationship as shown in Fig. 5. In this way an exceedingly firm and efficient clinch is secured with the staple flattened in complete encirclement of the neck of the bag to efiectually seal its mouth or opening. When properly operated the implement will form a substantially air-tight seal to protect the contents of the bag from deterioration or spoilage.

From the foregoing specification it will be apparent that the present invention provides an improved device of extremely simple construction, yet efficient in operation and proof against derangement or getting out of order. The implement herein shown as designed for manual operation in one hand is capable of being arranged for operation by a foot-treadle; or in other applications connected to power-means for actuating its staple-applying mechanism. The tubular containers to be sealed may be used for food products such as sausage-filling, chopped meat, small vegetables, fruits, confectionery, pop-corn and many other comestibles as well as other products too numerous to mention.

While the invention is herein illustrated and described as embodied in a preferred form of construction and as applied to use for a particular purpose, it is to be understood that modifications may be made in the form and arrangement of its parts to adapt it for other uses, all within the scope of the accompanying claims. It also provides a convenient means for fastening together the ends of draw-strings and tapes by applying a staple therearound. As a further example, the device constituted as herein described and illustrated may be employed for stapling fabrics or other materials, such as in draperies and curtains, in gathers or pleats, or for fastening articles thereto. Therefore, without limiting myself in this respect, I claim:

1. In a stapling implement having means for driving a staple, the combination of a gripping element having spaced apart slots for receiving and engaging around the sides of the gathered neck of a bag or like container to hold it in position for applying a staple thereto with its legs straddling the neck, one of said slots being considerably longer than the other slot to adapt it to receive and snugly hold the upper portion of the body of the bag, and clinching grooves in said gripping element located intermediate the 7 ends of said slots to adapt them to clinch the legs of the staple together enclosing the neck of the bag.

2. In a stapling implement having means for driving a staple, the combination therewith of a flat clinching anvil formed with a relatively long slot or opening extending inwardly from its side at an angle thereto, a second shorter slot extending inwardly from the forward end of the anvil toward the terminus of the longer slot, a recess bridging the space between the adjacent ends of said slots and formed with a concavity at the bottom thereof, and overlapping clincher grooves located in the concaved bottom of the recess and projecting slightly beyond the sides thereof.

3. in a device for applying staples to the gathered neck of a bag or like container, a relatively flat plate-like member having a concaved recess disposed substantially centrally thereof and formed with angular overlapping clincher grooves extending thereacross, said member projecting horizontally from the sides of said recess and formed with a relatively long slot extending inwardly from its side to a point adjacent one end of the recess, a second slot extending inwardly from the end of said member to the opposite end of said recess, said first-named slot adapted to hold the gathered upper portion of a bag or container and said second-named slot to hold the gathered neck of the container with said neck formed in a night received in the recess for applying a staple thereto and clinching its legs therearound to securely seal the mouth of the container.

4. Means for use in sealing the mouth of a bag or like container comprising a horizontal plate formed with a concavity adjacent its forward end and having overlapping clincher grooves bridging said concavity and extending beyond the sides thereof, said plate formed with a relatively long slot or opening extending inwardly from its side to one end of the concavity for receiving and holding the gathered upper portion of the bag, and a second slot extending inwardly from the forward end of the plate to the opposite end of said concavity for receiving and holding the gathered neck of the bag in applying a staple thereto.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 557,378 Gill Mar. 31, 1896 1,963,306 Maynard June 19, 1934 2,265,277 Gerke Dec. 9, 1941 

